Welcome back to another episode of As The Ladarius Green Turns. Today’s episode, in theory, has a much happier story than the reports that have come out over the last two weeks.
Speaking to reporters today, Green was confident that he will play this season. This is what he told the Beaver County Times’ Chris Bradford.
He also seemed to be pretty coy when asked about the concussion rumors.
He also told Bradford his ankle is feeling better, though not 100%, and has “ramped up” his training in the last week. On the final day of camp, Green was participating in some light work on the side.
Green has been on the Active/PUP list since the beginning of training camp. Various reports, beginning with the NFL Network, have said he’s still dealing with headaches stemming from the two concussions he suffered last season. Some have even speculated he could retire or the Steelers cut him.
But, and players are always the least reliable about their injuries, Green seems to be spinning a different web, seemingly healthy and confident he will suit up. There’s still no timetable on his return. If it’s just his ankle, there are decent odds he’ll make it back for Week One. If his concussions truly are playing a factor, then his timetable is unknown to everyone and he’ll truly be on a week-to-week basis, only returning when he is fully medically cleared by the appropriate doctors.
The Steelers have been tight-lipped on Green’s status. Mike Tomlin tersely denied that any player on the roster was in concussion protocol. Some believe he was using semantics to actually deny Green’s reported issue, working with the word “roster” loosely. But Green is very much on the roster and flatly lying, or at best, deceiving, about a concussion would be a horrible look for him and the league in a time when players and the general public are finally understanding the severity of such an injury.
For now, you can bet on Green missing the remainder of the preseason. From there, it’s anyone’s guess.
